In the last few months, I have spent my time in multiple countries living out of one suitcase. Had you known me even a year ago, the idea that this could be possible would be humorous to me. Growing up I spent part of my summers at my grandparents' house and packed a small suitcase for my shoes, never thinking twice about the fact that my visits were never longer than a month.

As I was packing for my semester abroad, I panicked when reading the email stating, "one suitcase, 50-pound weight limit". How does a person pack for ninety days and all kinds of weather in just one suitcase? Did I really have to follow those guidelines?

I've always been the girl that likes options. I like a backup plan (or two or three), and I like the idea of choosing what I wear and do each day as opposed to being told that I have one choice available. I naturally gravitate towards a sense of order, but I prefer to reach my destination in my own way.

While being required to only bringing one suitcase posed a new challenge, experiencing it made me realize just how attached to stuff I had become. My closet was full of shirts I didn't wear, books I'd stopped re-reading years ago, and piles of junk I never bothered to get rid of. I had boxes of sentimental items that were nice to look at now and then, but it wasn't like I forgot the memories.

Over the course of the past few months I've realized how much simpler it makes life to declutter and look at my belongings as what I need as opposed to what I want. Here are a few things I learned:

1. I don't need nearly as much stuff as I think I do.

While I did made the mistake of packing no short sleeves, no shorts and no comfy t-shirts for my semester abroad, I realized that in the grand scheme of things I really don't need thirty pairs or shoes and a plethora of shirts taking up space in my closet.

2. I spend my money more wisely than I used to.

Buyer's guilt has usually kept me from making ridiculous purchases, but living out of a suitcase taught me that I don't have to spend my paychecks on stuff I'll forget about in a couple of months. I am much better at budgeting, and I don't add to my closet unless it's something I need or genuinely love and will use. I also discovered that I'd much rather spend money on experiences than lugging home a suitcase full of souvenirs.

3. Living out of a suitcase can cause feelings of being unsettled.

Every time I go on vacation or return from a trip, the first thing I do is unpack. Maybe it's OCD or maybe it's a need for comfort, but I like feeling settled into a place before getting to know it. While I mastered the art of packing for a week of travel in a backpack, I never really felt quite at home. Despite learning to become less attached to my belongings, there is something to be said for staying in one place consistently and calling it home.

4. I have grown to become less materialistic.

I remember as a middle school girl I used to say shopping was one of my favorite things to do. Now that I'm earning and spending my own money, I'm glad that's no longer the case. I've learned that using things until they break or give out isn't a bad way to live, and I've been able to spend my money on more important things rather than splurging every time I go out.

This summer I'm working in a different city and only brought what I needed, so going home to visit means living out of a suitcase in my own house. It's strange sometimes, but I'm reminded of just how little I need to bring to get by.

I'm not advising that you grab a suitcase and give yourself a fifty-pound weight limit, but cleaning out your belongings will make you feel more organized and in control of your life. Donate those shirts from middle school to a local shelter, upcycle your childhood bookshelves, and remember that in the end your stuff is just that - stuff.